Barcelona and Valencia: top of the pile in the second half of the season

The second half of the Liga BBVA season is reaching its halfway point, with some sides having improved notably, and others not yet being able to find their feet. This is not exclusive to teams, with players also in fine fettle towards the business end of Liga BBVA.

If the league had started at the halfway point, the Liga BBVA leaders would still be FC Barcelona. The Catalan outfit have taken 24 from 27 points available, losing only to Málaga CF. Having scored 32 and shipped only eight, they lead the way, two ahead of Valencia CF, who have taken 22 points. Los Ché, with 18 goals scored and just five conceded are showing good form post Christmas. 

After these two is Athletic Club. With 20 points, the Basque outfit would be in the UEFA Champions League places, having scored 12 times and conceded eight. Real Madrid CF, with 19 points, are fourth having marked 16 times, shipping 11. The UEFA Europa League places would be shared by Atlético Madrid, who have racked up 18 points, but alongside Valencia are the tightest at the back, letting in only five. After the reigning champions is Real Sociedad, who have secured 17 points.

At the bottom, Levante UD, with nine points would be going down in third bottom, level on points with RC Deportivo, UD Almería and Granada CF, however with a worse goal difference. The Galician side have a goal difference of -4 for the second half of the season, Granada -5, Almería -6 while the Valencia outfit -8. Penultimate in the table would sit  SD Eibar, who have managed just one point, followed by Córdoba CF, who have not registered in the second half of the season. 

Messi, the top scorer in the second half of the season.

The goalscoring charts for the second half of the season is led by the current Liga BBVA top scorer, Leo Messi. The Argentine has 13 goals in nine games, despite not finding the back of the net against Real Madrid. After him comes Alberto Bueno of Rayo Vallecano, who scored four in the same game against Levante, and has nine in nine. The podium would be completed by Aritz Aduriz and Luis Suárez, who have both scored six. 

At the other end of the pitch are the goalkeepers. The best goalkeeper in the second half of the season is Valencia’s Diego Alves, having let in five in nine games, while Miguel Ángel Moyá of Atlético Madrid is a close second having shipped the same amount of goals but having played a game less. Next on the list are: Claudio Bravo (FC Barcelona), Kiko Casilla (RCD Espanyol) and Gorka Iraizoz (Athletic Club), who have all shipped eight. 

Barcelona and Sevilla, the top scorers

With respect to the team goalscoring charts, Barcelona (32) and Sevilla (21) lead the way, followed by Valencia with 18. At the other end of the spectrum are Eibar, with just two goals scorer and Córdoba and Elche CF, who both have five.

Atlético Madrid and Valencia are the two tightest defences, letting in only five, whereas Córdoba and Levante have both shipped 18 apiece and are the leakiest defences in the second half of the season.